In The Mood For Longing: 14 Songs To Add To Your Rainy Day Playlist
From rainy-day anthems by NIKI and Clara Benin to emotional tracks by Olivia Rodrigo and Janine Teñoso, here are songs that soundtrack the weather and accompany you through moments of longing, reflection, and everything in between.
Art by Gaby Molina
Art by Gaby Molina
As the rainy season settles in, everyone’s safety remains the top priority.
But while we stay indoors, quietly tucked into our beds or simply reveling in the silence, the sound of rain can also become a backdrop for moments of reflection, contemplation, and realizations.
And sometimes, all we need is the right soundtrack to accompany those quiet moments when we only have ourselves, away from the people we love or continue to love.
From songs about longing and love by NIKI and Maki to The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo, Billboard Philippines lists the perfect songs to soundtrack your rainy days that embrace heartbreak and vulnerability in full volume.
“Purple Rain” — Prince
This iconic 1984 hit by Prince has found its way into today’s generation’s playlists, thanks to its inclusion in the series finale of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things and its use on TikTok. A perfect soundtrack for long, rainy nights when you simply stare at the ceiling and reminisce, “Purple Rain” calls for an on-repeat listen. Prince’s vocals surely pack a punch, but beyond the gloomy atmosphere the song offers, its moments of solace and isolation make it essential to listen to during quiet nights.
“Cigarette Smoke” — Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo closes her you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love chapter with “cigarette smoke,” a devastating final track that talks about a memory that lingers after a past relationship has already ended — something that never really goes away, even after it’s long gone. A track that yearns for honesty and closure, there’s no better way to accompany the rain falling from the sky and the tears in your eyes as you lay yourself open to vulnerability.
“Puso” — Janine
A song about grieving a future that may never arrive, “Puso” is a hugot anthem that continues the gut-wrenching vocality and pain of Janine Teñoso’s music. Just as the rain can offer noise to somehow silence the emotions and cries, the song reminds us that sometimes, the greatest act of love is being brave enough to let go, even when it gets hard. And perhaps, as the rain stops, there’s the sun that offers a new beginning.
“Not Supposed to Fall in Love” — Leanne & Naara
“Not Supposed to Fall in Love” by Leanne & Naara captures the bittersweet feeling of catching feelings for someone at the most unexpected time. The track echoes the fear of being vulnerable and realizing how some connections can offer a detour from one’s plans and future. But to quote the Filipino sapphic film Open Endings, “feelings aren’t facts.” Maybe, just maybe, catching feelings for someone we never expected to fall for can teach us that these feelings of love serve as a testament that our hearts continue to function.
“All I Need to Hear” — The 1975
An underrated track from The 1975’s Being Funny in a Foreign Language, which spawned the band’s hit “About You,” there is another track that offers a soundtrack to the slow, rainy afternoons of contemplation. “All I Need to Hear” is an anthem for longing for love at a time when emptiness and loneliness creep in. This one’s for those with anxious attachments, always asking for reassurance and perhaps even settling for the person they long for’s insincerity.
“Crying Season” — UDD
A track by UDD — need we say more? As soon as you hit play and listen to “Crying Season,” you’re immediately pulled into something of a melancholic experience. The song is nothing short of carrying the weight of missing someone you continue to have feelings for. Now, while the person may no longer be in your life, they remain in every little thing you remember them by. It stings to cry over something or someone you know can never come back, but maybe the skies offer some comfort as they share this space and moment with your tears.
“habangbuhay pansamantala” — Maki
Maki knows how to speak (or sing) on behalf of those who yearn to be wanted. Just like the rain will surely go away, “habangbuhay pansamantala” soundtracks the feeling of holding onto something or someone in our lives dearly, and the only thing we can do is make the most of it for us, as much as it is theirs. These long, rainy nights offer a moment for us to think about how we love and how we want to be loved, and Maki says it best.
“Lambing” — Lola Amour
“Raining in Manila” by Lola Amour would’ve been a great (and more obvious) addition to this list, but we’re turning to their more recent single, “Lambing.” The atmosphere can ultimately bring us the warmth and comfort we may be longing for after the intense heat of the summer season, while the song greatly echoes the sentiment of wanting affection and reassurance from someone we love. Take away the grand gestures, and it’s always about the little moments when we feel close, heard, and understood. But perhaps if you can’t feel that comfort physically, this track will surely do its work.
“Autumn” — NIKI
There are so many songs from NIKI‘s catalog that offer warmth and pain (for the masochists) to listen to. But “Autumn” offers a breezy sonic experience that’s made for the ones who are easily attached and always the ones falling first. It’s about falling in love even after the end of it all and fully embracing and accepting that we don’t have to beat ourselves up too much. Having something to cry about and sitting in silence may be far from a perfect solution, but take it day by day.
“Parallel Universe” — Clara Benin
A song that amplifies the what-ifs into a space that may not even exist in this reality, “Parallel Universe” by Clara Benin is a quiet retreat into reveling in the different possibilities, misaligned timing, missed connections, and imagined futures that don’t exist. With its acoustic arrangement and Clara’s soothing yet haunting vocals, the song adds to the longing, while the rain simply becomes a quiet observer.
“Masilungan” — Sandwich
As the title suggests, “Masilungan” by Sandwich talks about finding comfort, refuge, and a sense of home in a person, especially during uncertain and difficult times such as the storm season. Amid the overwhelming feelings comes a song that carries the weight of vulnerability, reassuring us, ironically, that not having all the answers can offer clarity. Sometimes, we simply need the comfort of someone or something to keep us grounded.
“Chasing Cars” — Snow Patrol
“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol has found its place in many people’s playlists about longing, and for good reason. It’s a song that captures the feeling of wanting to be with someone — and just them. It echoes the feeling that, despite the noise from the world, we can find silence and a sense of home in someone. Maybe as we go through hard times, being with that person, even for a moment, is more than enough. The song builds into an emotional high that can only be replicated by how intensely we can love in silence, until our hearts can bear no more.
“Sepanx” — SHANNi
“Sepanx” by SHANNi speaks of the ache of parting ways with a loved one and how empty it can feel to move forward after being with them. As distance gets in the way amid the rainy days, staying indoors can only make the longing feel heavier, with the song becoming a friend and companion in our bedrooms. It can be quite tough to get through the day, but we shouldn’t think too much about the future. For now, we just have to get through each day with our heads held high.
“Soft Spot” — keshi
If you’re still afraid to reveal your clingy side to the person or people you hold dear, “Soft Spot” by keshi can be the one revelation. We have nothing left to lose when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, as it reminds us that our hearts work and there’s nothing to be ashamed of. The song offers a reflection of who we are and how we love — that feeling of being soft and letting our guard down doesn’t make us any less of a person. This is the perfect companion as you sip your hot coffee or chocolate while waiting for the rain to stop and see the sun slowly shine again.
Frequently Asked Questions
The list features 14 tracks including “Purple Rain” by Prince, “Cigarette Smoke” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Puso” by Janine, “Autumn” by NIKI, and “habangbuhay pansamantala” by Maki.
OPM acts featured include Janine (“Puso”), Maki (“habangbuhay pansamantala”), Lola Amour (“Lambing”), UDD (“Crying Season”), Sandwich (“Masilungan”), and Clara Benin (“Parallel Universe”).
International tracks include Prince’s “Purple Rain,” Olivia Rodrigo’s “Cigarette Smoke,” The 1975’s “All I Need to Hear,” Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars,” and keshi’s “Soft Spot.”
Every track centers on longing, heartbreak, and vulnerability — themes suited to quiet, reflective rainy days, spanning genres from OPM ballads to alternative pop and indie.
“Purple Rain,” Prince’s iconic 1984 hit, gained renewed relevance through its use in Stranger Things’ series finale and on TikTok, making it a modern rainy-night staple.
